Interview. Weekday cancellation of "Questions for a Champion": the record-holder for victories expresses his "astonishment"

How did you react to the announcement of the suspension of Questions pour un champion during the week?

"It was a complete surprise . I think it was for everyone who follows the show because there were no warning signs. It's a show that's doing pretty well, and the announcement was made at the last minute. The right word is 'astonishment.'"

Have you taken any action to try to reverse France Télévisions' decision?

"I have some contact with Samuel Étienne via Twitch. Everyone is doing their part. I know that clubs in France have contacted elected officials in their regions, and some have written an open letter to France Télévisions. There's an online petition with nearly 50,000 signatories. Samuel Étienne himself has taken a stand on social media. He could have decided not to do it, but I thought it was courageous to commit to the game."

What's your story with the show?

“I must have been 12 or 13 the first time I watched the show, I remember it was a junior special. Then I took part in a game show for high school students in Belgium and, once I was an adult, I wanted to continue with Questions pour un champion . I took part for the first time at 22, it was still in the Julien Lepers era. I had won once. I took part a few more times because you could re-register after two years. And in 2022, I set the record for wins on the show, which wasn't possible before 2021, when there was a limit of five wins.”

Is Questions for a Champion a popular show in Belgium?

"I can't speak for all of Belgium, but yes, there are loyal viewers of the show. I saw it in the audience's reactions; people recognized me and were quite happy that it was a Belgian who held the record. There are three or four clubs in Belgium, which proves there's interest here too."

What were the repercussions after breaking the record for victories?

“There was some media coverage, but I still felt like my status had changed. People recognized me a little in the street. What’s interesting is that the show is also popular on the internet, on Twitch. I also noticed that the younger generations were following and knew me. This allowed me to be invited to games like Culture Clash , organized at the Grand Rex this year, or the Quiz des champions , presented by Cyril Féraud on France 2. It opened some new doors for me.”

Beyond your participation, what does Questions for a Champion represent for you?

“It’s not just a television show, it’s truly a social phenomenon. It’s a show that allows generations to talk to each other. Many people have testified that it was the first show they watched with their grandparents. The fact that there are clubs that continue to play this game every week, meet up, organize tournaments… It allows people to meet in real life, it creates social bonds. It’s also a show that’s broadcast on TV5 Monde and that highlights the French-speaking world. I noticed that when I broke the record, people from all over the world contacted me. The show is watched throughout the French-speaking world; it’s a common cultural reference.”

Are you passionate about other game shows?

"I watch a little of Tout le monde veut prendre sa place , and I followed Émilien's victories at Douze coups de midi from afar without being a fan. The Floor, also conquering the floor , whose new season is starting soon. But Questions pour un champion is for me the most complete and most difficult show, with a mechanic that makes the game special, the eliminations and the fact that the champion is not protected. It's the only game where the champion has to go through all the rounds every time."

What is the secret to breaking the record for wins on Questions for a Champion ?

“Being curious, that’s for sure! Being interested in everything, in areas that you don’t necessarily master because what’s important is versatility. What’s exciting is that you open yourself up to new worlds. You also need regular training. Preparing for a game like this is like preparing for a sport; you need a certain rigor and regularity. I used an app that allowed me to review general knowledge sheets, and every day for about thirty minutes, I opened this app and it helped me revise subjects that I wanted to better master.”